Greenwich Historical Society is presenting a special program featuring an afternoon of song and readings from the Civil War era on Lincoln's birthday. Kies and a group of her friends and fellow musicians and history buffs will explore the lyrical history of the Civil War accompanied by authentic period instruments, including banjo, fiddle, bugle, harmonica, drums, concertina and guitar at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the Historical Society's Vanderbilt Education Center, 39 Strickland Road. First of all, be it known I married a dedicated Civil War buff. [...] last spring Bea Crumbine and Lynn Smith were working on their own program for the Greenwich Historical Society and invited me to join them to present two songs. A wonderful experience, it gave me the thought that it might be both historically interesting and great fun to gather together some of my musical friends to present songs of the Civil War, almost as if we were sitting around campfires of our own 150 years ago. Both he and fellow Old Greenwich resident Tim Schantz have been essential in the process of selecting songs and crafting random thoughts into a cohesive program. By day they are teachers, financial planners, builders, volunteers -- even a zoning officer! -- all with a mutual passion for authentic roots music, played on guitars, banjo, harmonica, concertina, snare drums, trumpet, bugle, fife and fiddles. Fear, pride, pain, camaraderie, loneliness, loss, exhilaration, exhaustion, exuberance and sacrifice . . . we are giving life to these human states through the music of the times.

The group is sponsored by Wild Bird Centers of America, a franchise of bird seed companies that sell bird seed, feeders, and associated items. The National Audubon Society's `Audubon At Home' program can provide lots of information on plants that provide natural foods to birds all year long, including those birds that do not come to feeders. A. The most widely used bird food types are: 1 black oil sunflower; 2 mixed seed containing sunflower, millet, cracked corn; 3 thistle or nyjer seed; 4 beef suet or peanut butter, often offered in the form of suet `cakes'; and 5 water. Some key items about bird feeding are: birds are best fed by a healthy habitat that contains a variety of native plants and insects, as well as water and plants for shelter; bird feeders are a supplement to those native resources that bring the birds closer to our homes for our study and enjoyment; even birds that visit bird feeders are still obtaining a major part of their diet from natural sources away from the feeders; bird feeders can be a life-saver in times of ice storms when natural foods are covered and unavailable. A. If they are well fed, birds can generate enough body heat to survive cold winter temperatures with the aid of their dense plumage, good cover provided by shrubbery, trees, nest boxes, etc. A. The Great Backyard Bird Count was started around 1998 to enlist bird watchers across the continent as "citizen scientists" to help scientists count birds and report them to the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University. [...] any individuals, families, scout groups, school classes, etc. can count in their local area including yards, parks, nature centers, etc. and then use a computer at home, school, or at the library to report their findings to the Great Backyard Bird Count website.

Sheri G. Lampert, 54, of 21 Meadowcroft Road, was charged Monday, Jan. 23 with breach of peace and second-degree criminal mischief after she drove a vehicle through the garage door of a Doubling Road residence, police said. Evelyn Robles, 32, of 393 Nevers Road, South Windsor, was charged Tuesday, Jan. 24 with driving under the influence, failure to obey a red light, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to signal and refusal to be fingerprinted. Emergency personnel came to the intersection of Lake Avenue and Close Road on the report of a driver lying in the snow, police said. After discovering that the driver was uninjured and wanted to refuse medical attention, emergency personnel determined that the driver, King, was intoxicated and also possibly under the influence of sleep medication, which was found in the vehicle, police said. A 15-year-old girl was charged Thursday, Jan. 19 with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault after she was involved in a fight in school with another girl, police said. Tahneesha Shalay West, 27, of 988 Willoughby Ave., was charged Thursday, Jan. 26 with third-degree larceny, second-degree identity theft and criminal impersonation. Greenwich police arrested West at the King's County Courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., after she waived extradition for an arrest warrant, according to police. Diaz was charged with first-degree criminal trespass, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road, unless otherwise indicated. Monday, Feb. 6 Budget: Public Hearing Night, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 Planning & Zoning Commission, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 Historic District Commission, 7 p.m. Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals (PZBA), 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 Budget: BOE Departmental & Capital Review, 9 a.m.

The Junior League of Greenwich and Greenwich Library are sponsoring the first Greenwich Youth Film Festival to encourage high school students in Fairfield and Westchester Counties to express themselves through the art of film, with $4,000 in cash prizes to be awarded in five categories. The Greenwich Fire Department is seeking Volunteer Firefighters or Volunteer Fire Police Patrol members, with training provided. The Greenwich Dept. of Social Services is assisting residents facing hardship with their energy bills with meeting with a caseworker programs. Children's Explorations in Art, by students from Kindergarten through fifth grade of North Street School, with an opening reception on Jan. 9, from 5:15-6:30 p.m. For more information, call 203-622-6883. From Jan. 28 to Feb. 29, the Garden Education Center of Greenwich, 130 Bible Street, the art work of Julie Satinover will be on view with a reception tomorrow evening, Jan. 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information call 203-869-9242 or email gec@gecgreenwich.org. from 4 to 7 p.m., at Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, a documentary film screening & panel discussion of "American Meat" that surveys the current state of the U.S. meat industry, featuring dozens of American farmers, followed by a discussion of locally available meat and foods. 4 p.m., Pauline Cantwell, host of 1490 WGCH's "Live Well with Cantwell" will speak for free on "The Wild Cards in Climate Change," at the Greenwich Library Discussion topics include (1) weather warfare, (2) deliberate weather modification, and (3) geoengineering (solar radiation management). On Jan. 31, at 3 p.m., At Home in Greenwich, Inc. invites seniors for coffee to discuss problem-solving ideas and fun social opportunities with membership with Executive Director Lise Jameson and current members in Fletcher Hall of Second Congregational Church, 139 E. Putnam Ave. From Feb. 1 to 24, at the Cos Cob Library, 5 Sinawoy Road, is an exhibit of art work by Stanwich School Kindergarten students that was inspired by children's author and illustrator Eric Carle. Beginning Feb. 1, for four Wednesdays, from 12-1 p.m., the Jewish Family Services is offering get togethers at One Holly Hill Lane for those who care for their aging parents to share feelings, concerns and, in some cases, frustrations with this new role. $40 registration. On Sunday, Feb.2, from 9-5, the Cos Cob Library, 5 Sinawoy, is celebrating Take Your Child to the Library Day with I Spy, with clues to find fun items and pictures, with special prizes. Wear pajamas option and bring favorite stuffed animal. Audubon Greenwich at 613 Riversville Road is presenting a French film with English subtitles, "La Cle des champs" (The key fields) about a young boy discovering nature In the French countryside. First Sunday Bird Walk Larger than Life, for children 3 years and up (with adult caregivers) to watch Walter Wick's amazing pictures projected on the big screen for an interactive observation experience. Highlights include warming tents along the river, eagle conservation exhibits, live eagle presentations, and eagle-watching bus tours. On Feb. 5, from 12-2 p.m., Equinox and the Junior Committee of the Breast Cancer Alliance are hosting the fundraising event, "Get Fit for a Cure," at Equinox, 16 Old Tract Rd. The Art History of a Color, with Elena Phipps, author, independent scholar and former Senior Museum Conservator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art at the Bruce Museum, One Museum Drive. Beginning Feb. 9, for six Thursdays, from 11-2 p.m., the Jewish Family Services is offering participants an opportunity to talk about strained family relationships -- whether it is with a parent, a sibling, a grandparent, a son or a daughter. $60 registration. On Feb. 9, from 6-8 p.m. is the opening of the Samuel Owen Gallery exhibit "Black & White Carpet," a photographic exhibition by international photographer Stephane Kossmann, of candid black-and-white photography taken on the Red Carpet of the Cannes Film Festival, including Leonardo di Caprio, George Clooney, Madonna, Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, etc. The Greenwich Art Society Celebrates 100 at the Bruce Museum, featuring each decade of the Greenwich Art Society's history through 43 paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture by past and present member artists and/or teachers, with many works from the Bruce Museum's collection. From Feb.13-17 from 9-12 noon, the Dept. of Parks and Recreation is offering children in first - 4th grades a basketball clinic during the School break winter at the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center. On March 2, from 10-7 p.m. and on March 3, from 10-4 p.m., the Green Fingers Garden Club will exhibit "The Nature of the Game," their annual flower show of plants and flower arrangements, garden photography, and plant boutique in the Christ Church Parish Hall, 254 East Putnam. Deadline is March 16 for those local female high school seniors who exemplify the mission of the JLG, whose volunteer activities show a significant and sustained commitment to community service and leadership.